There is something about Mount Shasta that is difficult to explain.
Some people hear her name once and feel curious. Others keep coming across photographs, conversations, or stories about the mountain until they finally decide to visit. And then there are those who feel an immediate connection without knowing anything about her history.
Mount Shasta is a 14,163-foot volcano in Northern California, surrounded by forests, alpine lakes, meadows, and natural springs. It is breathtakingly beautiful, but there are many beautiful mountains in the world.
So what is it about this particular mountain that draws so many people seeking spiritual connection, healing, or simply a deeper understanding of themselves?
My own relationship with Mount Shasta began in 2017, when I visited with my two-year-old daughter and my aunt. I knew very little about the mountain at the time, but I remember how deeply moved I was when I first saw her. My heart felt as though it had opened in a way I couldn’t quite explain.
I have returned many times since then. Over the years, Mount Shasta has become an important part of my spiritual journey, and eventually, a place where I began bringing small groups together for retreats.
Even after all these years, I still find it difficult to fully explain what makes her so special.
A Mountain That Stands Apart
One of the first things you notice about Mount Shasta is how dramatically she rises above the surrounding landscape.
Although she belongs to the Cascade Range, she appears almost entirely on her own. On a clear day, you can see her from miles away, sometimes long before you arrive in the town of Mount Shasta.
There is also something fascinating about the clouds that form around her summit. Sometimes they appear like enormous, perfectly shaped discs hovering above the mountain. These are called lenticular clouds, a natural weather phenomenon caused by air moving across the mountain.
Of course, there are scientific explanations for these things. But understanding how something happens doesn’t necessarily take away from the wonder of experiencing it.
And Mount Shasta has a way of reminding me of that.
The Spiritual Mysteries of Mount Shasta
For many spiritual seekers, Mount Shasta is known for much more than its natural beauty.
Over the years, the mountain has become associated with stories of ancient civilizations, ascended masters, and powerful energetic connections.
One of the most well-known legends is that of Lemuria, a civilization believed in certain esoteric traditions to have existed long before our recorded history. According to these stories, some Lemurians survived the destruction of their homeland and established a city called Telos beneath Mount Shasta.
There are also teachings that connect the mountain to Saint Germain, an ascended master associated with the Violet Flame and spiritual transformation. In the 1930s, Guy Ballard described an encounter with Saint Germain on Mount Shasta, an account that later became influential within the I AM spiritual movement.
Some people believe Mount Shasta is one of the Earth’s energetic centers, sometimes described as its root chakra.
These are spiritual beliefs and legends rather than established historical or scientific facts.
Personally, I find the stories fascinating. I have always been curious about ancient civilizations, the mysteries of consciousness, and the possibility that our understanding of reality is far from complete.
But I also believe that you don’t need to subscribe to any particular belief to experience something meaningful here.
You can come to Mount Shasta with an open heart and simply allow your own relationship with the mountain to unfold.
The Sacred Land and Water
One of the things I love most about Mount Shasta is how much there is to experience in nature.
The mountain’s volcanic landscape gives rise to beautiful springs, forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Every place has its own character, and I find myself drawn to different locations depending on how I am feeling.
The Headwaters of the Sacramento River, located in Mount Shasta City Park, is where I begin my visits to the mountain. I like to take a moment here to acknowledge the land, introduce myself, and share my intention for being there. It is my way of arriving with reverence and gratitude before beginning the journey.
Panther Meadows holds a particularly special place in my heart. I have spent time sitting quietly here, listening to the water, and allowing myself to feel whatever is present. Some of my most emotional experiences on the mountain have happened in this beautiful meadow.
Castle Lake is another favorite. There is something incredibly peaceful about sitting beside the water, surrounded by the mountains and trees.
And then there are McCloud Falls, where the sound and movement of the water can be so soothing and grounding.
I also think it is important to acknowledge that Mount Shasta is part of the ancestral homelands of Indigenous peoples whose spiritual and cultural relationships with this land continue today.
Long before modern spiritual communities began speaking about Lemuria or ascended masters, this mountain was already deeply sacred.
For me, visiting sacred land involves respect. I encourage those who travel with me to approach these places with humility, to learn about their history, and to leave the natural environment undisturbed.
Sometimes the most meaningful offering we can make is simply our presence, our gratitude, and the way we care for the land.
My Personal Connection to Mount Shasta
When I look back on my spiritual journey, Mount Shasta has been present during some important moments of transformation.
My first visit in 2017 was emotional in a way I hadn’t expected. I didn’t have a spiritual agenda or a particular experience I was seeking. I simply came to visit.
Yet something about being there touched me deeply.
Years later, I returned to the mountain and experienced my initiation into Kundalini work. It was also here that my light language began to emerge.
These experiences have shaped the work I share today through Radiant Flo.
Of course, everyone’s experience of Mount Shasta is different.
I have met people who describe an overwhelming sense of peace, emotional releases, vivid dreams, or a feeling of familiarity they cannot explain. Others simply enjoy the beauty of the mountain and the opportunity to step away from their everyday routines.
And that is beautiful, too.
I don’t believe we need to arrive at a sacred place expecting something extraordinary to happen.
Sometimes we receive exactly what we need through a quiet walk, a conversation, or an afternoon spent resting beneath the trees.
Why Experience Mount Shasta Through a Retreat?
You certainly don’t need to attend a retreat to visit Mount Shasta. Some of my most meaningful experiences have happened during personal visits.
But there is something special about gathering with a small group of people who have chosen to share this journey.
When I began facilitating retreats on Mount Shasta, I wanted to create an experience that allowed people to spend meaningful time on the land while also having the support of a group.
During our retreats, we visit sacred places, gather for ceremony, share meals, and practice Kundalini Activation. There is space for reflection, rest, conversation, and whatever may arise during our time together.
One thing I have come to appreciate is how differently people experience the same place.
One person may feel deeply emotional while sitting beside a spring. Another may experience complete peace. Someone else may simply feel grateful to be outside, away from the responsibilities waiting at home.
I love witnessing these different experiences without needing to interpret them or give them a particular meaning.
I also intentionally keep my retreat groups small.
For me, this allows a more intimate atmosphere where people can get to know one another and where I can offer more individual attention. It is important that everyone feels comfortable participating at their own pace.
The journey doesn’t necessarily end when we leave Mount Shasta, either.
Sometimes people return home feeling inspired and refreshed. Other times, they need space to reflect on what they experienced. I believe integration is an important part of any spiritual retreat, and I encourage people to give themselves time rather than rush to make sense of everything.
How Do You Know If Mount Shasta Is Calling You?
This is a question I hear often.
Some people tell me that Mount Shasta has been appearing in their lives for months or even years. They keep hearing about her, seeing photographs, or meeting people who have visited.
Others simply feel curious and want to experience the mountain for themselves.
I can’t tell you whether Mount Shasta is calling you. That is something only you can explore for yourself.
But I do believe there is value in paying attention to the places that continue to capture our curiosity.
Sometimes that curiosity leads us somewhere unexpected.
And sometimes a beautiful mountain is simply a beautiful mountain, and being there is more than enough.
When I think about my first visit in 2017, I had no idea how significant Mount Shasta would eventually become in my life. I certainly didn’t know I would one day return to guide others through experiences on this land.
I’m grateful I followed that initial curiosity.
So I will leave you with a question.
Has Mount Shasta been on your mind lately? And what is it about her that draws you in?
With love, Anya
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Anya Dillon
Certified Kundalini Activation Facilitator, Certified Rose Priestess, Certified BodyTalk Practitioner and Feminine Embodiment Guide, and a former occupational therapy practitioner of nearly two decades. Founder of Radiant Flo in Carlsbad, California.